Echoes of Aincrad

Did you ever enjoy the PS3 era of RPGs? I used to think I did, until Echoes of Aincrad reminded me what those games were actually like. There is something morbidly poetic about the idea of climbing Aincrad. One hundred floors suspended above the clouds, each one promising a new world and the hope of…

LumenTale: Memories of Trey

Pokémon’s pull on the monster-collecting genre is absolute. With every successive generation, a new wave of youth falls under its slick spell, constantly expanding the ranks of Pokémaniacs. Yet, as the years march on, some of us elder Pokémaniacs have begun to question the dogma, wondering if the foundation of the series is truly evolving,…

Otome Daoshi -Fighting for Love-

Round one, begin! It’s once again time for the kingdom of Kayu’s Tournament of Valor, in which every participant believes in the motto of might makes right. A young Daoshi-in-training named Shunlin accompanies her grandfather Lihong and childhood friend Haoran to the martial arts spectacle, but the trio is unprepared for the tournament’s shocking events.…

Dice Gambit

Sometimes, a name hides far more than it suggests. Dice Gambit sounds like a modest, digital board game built around simple bets. So imagine my surprise when close inspection uncovered a cleverly designed tactical RPG packed with interlocking dice-based mechanics, sharp class-based combat, and nuanced visual flair. Though the game offers a limited variation in…

Random Encounter 311 – Merry Game Awards 2024!

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re chatting about gaming’s biggest night: The Game Awards 2024! After a few rocky years, The Game Awards have finally hit their stride for their 10th anniversary. There were some astonishing reveals, wonderful tributes, and a surprising amount of empathy for those struggling in today’s gaming industry. With announcements…

Jazz Arrange Version: Chrono Cross

Sean Schafianski released Chrono Trigger: Jazz Arrange Version, one of the earliest albums in his jazz arrange series. For those unfamiliar with Schafianski’s previous jazz albums, I want to state that the arrangement and production of these albums are nearly the same quality as Square Enix’s own jazz series. Certainly, Schafianski is working with fewer…

Retro Encounter 447 – Dragon Quest III Part I

A podcast episode appears! Dragon Quest III was a blockbuster success in Japan in 1988, and its nonlinear progression, fun job system, and spirit of adventure influenced every Dragon Quest game to come. DQ3 also has a shiny new 2024 HD-2D remaster, and today on Retro Encounter different panelists play the NES 1988 and 2024…